Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMFVF’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMFVF’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and semi-double inflorescences with dark red purple and white bi-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMFVF’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMFVF’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy container Dahlia plants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in September, 2012 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number 4001746, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since February, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMFVF’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMFVF’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Semi-double inflorescences with dark red purple and white         bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have purple and yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida ‘Fidahflo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,203. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘Fidahflo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have more ray         florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Fidahflo’.     -   2. Ray florets of the new Dahlia and ‘Fidahflo’ differ in color         as ray florets of ‘Fidahflo’ are red purple in color towards the         base and white towards the apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMFVF’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘BKDAMFVF’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMFVF’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number 4001746, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of             the new Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; sturdy plant             habit; freely basal branching habit with about nine primary             branches developing per plant; inflorescences held above the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth             habit; pinching is not required but will improve branching             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25.5             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16.7 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 40°             from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to 143A. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and simple or compound with             three or five leaflets.         -   Length, simple leaves.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Length, compound leaves.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Width, simple leaves.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Width, compound leaves.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Shape, simple leaves.—Ovate.         -   Shape, compound leaves in overall outline.—Ovate.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate.         -   Apex, leaflets.—Apiculate.         -   Base, leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Smooth,             sparsely pubescent; slightly velvety; slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Smooth,             sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A to 138B.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A;             venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to between 147B and 191A; venation, close to             147B.         -   Petioles.—Length, simple leaves: About 2.6 cm. Length,             compound leaves: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Height:             About 2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 144C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with             about 15 developing and fully developed inflorescences per             plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 58 days after planting;             plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 150A and 150B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.3 cm. Depth (height):             About 3.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 75 arranged in about five whorls. Length: About             2.8 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex:             Obtuse to shallowly reuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Aspect: Upright to roughly horizontal and eventually             downward; moderately to strongly concave. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;             matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 71A;             mid-section and towards the base, close to NN155B; at the             base, close to 6A to 6C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 71A; mid-section and towards the base, close to NN155B;             at the base, close to 5C to 5D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 71B; at the apex, close to 71A; mid-section and             towards the base, close to NN155B; at the base, close to 6A             to 6C; venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 72B; at the apex, close to 72A; mid-section and towards             the base, close to NN155B; at the base, close to 6A to 6C;             colors do not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 50 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             four spiral whorls. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to 14A. Mid-section: Close to 14B. Base: Close to 145D.             Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex and             mid-section: Close to 14A. Base: About 145D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 9 mm.             Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to NN137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.4 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color:             Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close             to 23A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity             per floret: One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length:             About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 150B. Stigma diameter:             About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 17A.             Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMFVF’ as illustrated and described. 